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Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

In two short days the Church will celebrate Mary’s Assumption into heaven, that marvelous event when “Mary was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory” (CCC 966). Mary’s assumption was a special gift from
God. She had this unique privilege of bypassing the corruption of death, and going directly to heaven because
she was sinless.

But what does this mystery of our faith say to us? What can we
learn from it and try to incorporate into our lives? I believe that the Assumption of Mary has two particular lessons:

1)That
we have a mother and intercessor in heaven who prays for us!

2)She
gives us hope in eternal life, reminding us of our own goal, for she has already
made it to the finish line!

Photo Credit: Margery Ketz/ Wikimedia Commons

Mary as Our Mother and Intercessor

Most
of us have either experienced the power and unconditional quality of a mother’s
love ourselves or have witnessed it in another’s life. If we multiply this by a
100 or even 1000 times, I believe we can get a glimpse of Mary’s motherly love
towards each one of us. For she is our heavenly Mother who awaits our prayers
and requests. Did she not tell Juan Diego in 1531 on Tepeyac Hill near Mexico
City, “Do not let anything afflict you,
and do not be afraid of any illness, or accident or pain. Am I not here who am
your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Do you need anything
else?”

And
in 1830 at Rue de Bac in Paris Mary explained to Catherine Laboure, a young
novice with the Daughters of Charity, the meaning of her image on the
Miraculous Medal, the medal that she wanted Catherine to have made: The words, “O Mary conceived without
sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee” would be printed around the medal’s
edge, honoring her Immaculate Conception; rays coming from her hands would symbolize the grace that comes through her
motherly intercession and prayers. And when Catherine asked Mary about the
stones on her fingers that had no rays of grace coming forth, Mary explained, “that’s all the grace I want to obtain for
people, but no one asks me.” All
we have to do for our Mother to help us, to intercede for us is to ask her! And
so we pray, “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to
thee!”

Blessed Alberione shows us the power of Mary's intercession when he cites St. Anselm in his book, "Mary, Hope of the World," "St Anselm presents Mary as a merciful Mother" writes Alberione "who helps everyone who approaches her." ( p 15). She is our Mother who loves us all and notices our needs, just as she did at the wedding feast of Cana. So let us remember to ask for her help.

Mary Gives Us Hope in Eternal Life

Mary’s
bodily presence in heaven near her Son also gives us great hope, hope in the
gift of eternal life, hope in our own resurrection at the end of time. She goes
before us to “save us a seat,” if you will. She points out to us our eternal
destiny as her children who were bought at a great price: the price of her own
Son’s death and resurrection. Let us believe in and accept him as our Lord and
Savior, our Way, Truth, and Life (Jn. 14:6).

And
so when life is difficult, even at times overwhelming, we can turn to Mary
knowing that she listens, that she cares for us with immense love, and that she
will obtain for us the grace that we need, if we but ask.

On
this Feast of the Assumption we thank our Queen and Mother for her powerful prayers
and for the hope that she brings to our lives: “Mary, assumed into heaven, pray for us! Mary, Queen of Apostles, pray
for us!”

____________

Sr.
Laura R. Brown has been a Daughter of St. Paul since 1985 and has been assigned
to many FSP communities. Her current assignments in St. Louis,
MO, include parish evangelization and
outreach, as well as assistance with Pauline
Book & Media Center events. She has an MA in theology
and participated in the Pauline Charism Course in Rome from 2008 to 2009.

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